North Korea Watch 2017

I am sure that everyone here at ATS will be relieved by the following report:

NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is expected to arrive in North Korea Tuesday, according to two officials in that country who spoke to CNN. CNN spotted Rodman at Beijing International Airport, where he declined to answer questions.

Rodman would be arriving in Pyongyang at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Pyongyang, which is currently detaining four Americans. It's unclear what the purpose of Rodman's visit to the secretive country could be, but the eccentric former basketball player -- and a former contestant on Donald Trump's pre-presidency reality TV show "Celebrity Apprentice" -- is one of the only Americans to have met current North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

When asked by CNN journalists in Pyongyang, unnamed North Korean officials confirmed that Rodman is expected to arrive in Pyongyang Tuesday. They gave no further details.

Source

I don't know if I should laugh or cry. If Rodman isn't careful, he could either be whacked by his buddy Lil' Kim or get sent to the nearest NK prison, never to be heard from again.

I for the life of me can't understand why anyone would travel to NK, esp. at a time like this. Smh

a reply to: dianajune

Nah, Rodman is safer there than he would be in downtown Chicago I'd bet.

The scary thing to remember is that Rodman has more face time with Kim than pretty much anyone in the U.S. Certainly more than people in Washington, including the past few presidents. It's not his first trip there.

National Review article

Rodman has also done a few interesting interviews on his past visit there. I mean, he's not my choice to be any type of ambassador heh. But he's also provided info that our intelligence services didn't know, like the fact and name of Kim's daughter.

His last visit he apparently received some veiled threats and push back from the govt here, according to his interviews. This trip I'd wager that the U.S gov is a bit more supportive of the endeavor.

We live in a weird world...

Sadly, he [Otto Warmbier] is in a coma and we have been told he has been in that condition since March 2016. We learned of this only one week ago."

They were quoted by the Washington Post as saying they had been told Otto contracted botulism, a rare illness that causes paralysis, soon after his trial in March 2016.

He was given a sleeping pill, and has been in a coma ever since, the newspaper said.

Mr Warmbier's release comes hours after US basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea but it is not clear if the two events are linked

BBC.com, news, June 13, 2107 -Otto Warmbier: North Korea releases jailed US student 'in coma'.

The Worm show up and they release the student jailed for trying to steal a propaganda poster?! Magic 8 ball says, "likely."

What gets me is he get botulism and they gave him a sleeping pill! That is like giving a kid aspirin for a fever. How could he just get botulism while under state control??

Something stinks and it isn't the rotten food fed to that student while in jail.

a reply to: Sagacity

Interesting article. Tx!

If I was Rodman, I'd be concerned about what would happen should Lil' Kim suddenly turn on me. He ordered the killing of many people including members of his own family. Imho, Lil' Kim wouldn't think twice about doing harm to Rodman should they have a "parting of ways," so to speak.

It's hard to understand his reasons behind this trip. No one could pay me enough to go to NK. No one.

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

Sadly, he [Otto Warmbier] is in a coma and we have been told he has been in that condition since March 2016. We learned of this only one week ago."

They were quoted by the Washington Post as saying they had been told Otto contracted botulism, a rare illness that causes paralysis, soon after his trial in March 2016.

He was given a sleeping pill, and has been in a coma ever since, the newspaper said.

Mr Warmbier's release comes hours after US basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea but it is not clear if the two events are linked

BBC.com, news, June 13, 2107 -Otto Warmbier: North Korea releases jailed US student 'in coma'.

The Worm show up and they release the student jailed for trying to steal a propaganda poster?! Magic 8 ball says, "likely."

What gets me is he get botulism and they gave him a sleeping pill! That is like giving a kid aspirin for a fever. How could he just get botulism while under state control??

Something stinks and it isn't the rotten food fed to that student while in jail.

Between this and the constant threats against the US and our allies, I am disgusted that the Trump Administration isn't doing anything to neutralize this threat.

If I was Potus, the military would have attacked by now.

That poor young man was stuck there for a year and our gov't did nothing? Not to mention others that are being unlawfully held?

What's wrong with our gov't - they keep giving Lil' Kim more time to attack us. Contrary to what some have claimed, NK can reach Alaska and Hawaii with their missiles. And even if they had no nukes whatsoever (but they do), NK still has plenty of chemical and biological weapons with which to wreak havoc.

We need to get this young man home asap and do whatever it takes to help him recover, including a battery of toxicology tests to see what those ###$$## gave him.

We need to attack NK now and get it over with before they get us or our allies. Especially before we are nuked or EMP'd to kingdom come.

For those that read NK news that may not have see this posted :

ATS thread

North Korea does suck, but occasionally they get something right.

LOL haven't seen that before.

a reply to: Sagacity

Well how bout a #in star?

North Korea must be getting really edgy between the shooting last week and this jet getting shot down in Syria now. I would expect them to do something for attention soon.

a reply to: face23785

Hehehe starred. Yes, they need that spotlight. I'm sure they will do something to garner attention soon.

originally posted by: Sagacity
a reply to: face23785

Hehehe starred. Yes, they need that spotlight. I'm sure they will do something to garner attention soon.

Hopefully it won't be an emp attack on the US, or a nuke going off in Alaska, Hawaii or SK.

Wouldn't it be great if Lil' Kim held a press conference announcing that he will step down as "supreme leader" or whatever he calls himself?

I can dream, can't I?

a reply to: dianajune

Sorry I didn't reply.

The other thread went up and followed what others thought over there for a bit.



Anyone see this?

A North Korean soldier has fled to South Korea by swimming across the Han River, the second defection in a week.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the man had swum across a particularly narrow part of the fast-moving river after attaching foam to his shoulders to help him stay afloat.

...

He screamed "Don't kill me, I am here to defect", at a South Korean marine who had seen him, Yonhap said.

BBC.com, news, June 18, 2017 - North Korean soldier swims across river to defect.

That is two soldiers in a week to defect. They average about one a year. The Han river is a fast moving, relatively wide, river. What must the conditions be inside the country to even attempt this? He would be a target from the shore the trip across.

The diplomat who defected last year said that there would be more defections including high ranking officials.

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
a reply to: dianajune

Sorry I didn't reply.

The other thread went up and followed what others thought over there for a bit.

 

Anyone see this?

A North Korean soldier has fled to South Korea by swimming across the Han River, the second defection in a week.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the man had swum across a particularly narrow part of the fast-moving river after attaching foam to his shoulders to help him stay afloat.

...

He screamed "Don't kill me, I am here to defect", at a South Korean marine who had seen him, Yonhap said.

BBC.com, news, June 18, 2017 - North Korean soldier swims across river to defect.

That is two soldiers in a week to defect. They average about one a year. The Han river is a fast moving, relatively wide, river. What must the conditions be inside the country to even attempt this? He would be a target from the shore the trip across.

The diplomat who defected last year said that there would be more defections including high ranking officials.

Two defections in such a short period of time probably means that conditions in NK are worsening.

Weird thing is, with rampant starvation of the populace and oppression on top of that, one would think that Lil' Kim would have been ousted by now.

Lil' Kim's father seemed to make a point of stirring things up whenever the world's attention was diverted elsewhere. With how Russia is reacting to our downing of the Syrian jet, it wouldn't surprise me if Kim decides to fire off another missile or two - just to see how Trump will react.

I wish that Trump & Co. would take this threat seriously. Lil' Kim's father was mostly bluster. His son seems bent on destroying everyone around him should he not get his way.

a reply to: dianajune

I was hopping that North Korea could be dealt with diplomatically. I'm no longer sure it can.

Invasion would not be very wise. The place is hilly as all get out all the way from the shore to the capital. Up one side, down the other, up again... all the way there. In winter, it gets colder than h3ll there. Bombing? Ah h3ll, I don't even want to speculate any longer. No use hyping up war and rumors of war. I'm over that.

Still not sure how or what to do so I will keep watch!

It's been reported that Otto Warmbier has died.

Otto Warmbier, the American student who was detained and held in North Korea before being returned back to the U.S. earlier this month, has died according to his family. He was 22 years old. “It is our sad duty to report that our son, Otto Warmbier, has completed his journey home,” Fred and Cindy Warmbier wrote in a statement. “Surrounded by his loving family, Otto died today at 2:20 pm.”

Fox News report on death of Otto Warmbier

I'd like the Trump Administration to actually do something about his death. NK should be held accountable for what happened to Otto, and whatever happened to our other citizens being illegally held.

Kim Jong Un has blood on his hands, and if our gov't doesn't take action they are just as guilty, imo, as Lil' Kim. Otto should never have been abandoned by our gov't. I am concerned the others are suffering the same fate.

When on Earth will we bomb NK???

a reply to: dianajune

Un should face the same fate.

a reply to: dianajune

When on Earth will we bomb NK???

Hopefully never.

Looks like Trump's patience with China is up.

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
a reply to: dianajune

I was hopping that North Korea could be dealt with diplomatically. I'm no longer sure it can.

Invasion would not be very wise. The place is hilly as all get out all the way from the shore to the capital. Up one side, down the other, up again... all the way there. In winter, it gets colder than h3ll there. Bombing? Ah h3ll, I don't even want to speculate any longer. No use hyping up war and rumors of war. I'm over that.

Still not sure how or what to do so I will keep watch!

Invasion may not be necessary. Decapitation strike may be enough. Un rules through fear. From what we've heard from defectors over the years, the top military leaders aren't big fans of the Kims. Once he is dead, I doubt they'd fight a suicidal war with the US to avenge him. We could simultaneously hit their nuclear facilities and chem/bio weapons stockpiles just in case they do decide to retaliate. The population may be suicidally devoted because they've been so thoroughly indoctrinated, but like most dictators Un doesn't allow his citizens to be armed.

Donald trump has just posted this on his Facebook account:

While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help w/ North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!

I'm guessing 100 days are up. So, what happens next?